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Depeche Mode to Release ‘M’ in Cinemas and IMAX Worldwide Oct. 28

Eric Alper
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Depeche Mode to Release ‘M’ in Cinemas and IMAX Worldwide Oct. 28

Following a rapturous reception at this year’s Tribeca Festival, Depeche Mode, along with Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Vision, announce the release of the feature film Depeche Mode: M, coming to cinemas and IMAX worldwide for a limited theatrical event beginning Tuesday, October 28th. The film is expected to screen in 2,500+ cinemas in more than 60 countries, giving fans worldwide the opportunity to join Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, director Fernando Frias and company on this unique cinematic journey into the heart of Mexican culture’s relationship with death, framed by the iconic live performances of Depeche Mode.

Tickets go on sale starting September 17th.

Conceived and directed by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Fernando Frias, Depeche Mode: M is an expressive and dynamic cinematic experience built around footage from the band’s three sold-out Mexico City Foro Sol Stadium shows on the 2023-2024 Memento Mori Tour. The feature-length film takes audiences on a musical and spiritual journey, as the songs resonate in real time with fans. It illustrates the band’s timeless multi-cultural influence while delving into the profound connection between music, mortality, and Mexican tradition.

“At its core, our new film ‘M’ is about the deep connection between music, culture, and people—and Fernando Frías, who directed and conceived the film, did a beautiful job telling that story that through the lens of Mexican culture and our shows in Mexico City,” states Dave Gahan.

Through Frias’ creative lens, the film explores the parallels between the themes on Depeche Mode’s latest album, Memento Mori, and the deep connection to death and mortality in Mexican culture. Frias is best known for his award-winning film I’m No Longer Here, which won Mexico’s prestigious Ariel Academy Awards with ten wins, including Best Picture and Best Direction. The film also earned Frias a DGA nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement. Additionally, it was Mexico’s submission to the Oscars in 2021 and was shortlisted for Best International Feature. His latest film, I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, premiered to critical acclaim.

Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori Tour saw the band play to more than three million fans at 112 shows globally. The tour followed Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album, Memento Mori, released in 2023. An indelible inspiration to fans, critics and artists alike, Depeche Mode continues to forge ahead, with the Memento Mori album and tour representing the latest chapter of a peerless and ongoing legacy.

GWAR Returns to Australia for First Time in Over a Decade With ‘The Return of Gor Gor’ and “Tyrant King” Action Figures

Eric Alper
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GWAR Returns to Australia for First Time in Over a Decade With ‘The Return of Gor Gor’ and “Tyrant King” Action Figures

Shock rock overlords GWAR storm back to Australia this December for Good Things Festival 2025, their first Down Under shows in over a decade, and they’re bringing the carnage in more ways than one. Alongside their milestone multimedia release, The Return of Gor Gor, GWAR has teamed with Trick or Treat Studios to launch a new series of officially licensed action figures, perfect for fans who want to bring the Scumdogs’ chaos home.

The band’s Australian return follows the release of The Return of Gor Gor, a grotesque, hilarious, and gloriously violent audio/visual assault celebrating 40 years of GWAR’s intergalactic mayhem. Featuring the brutal new single “Tyrant King” and a 32-page comic, the release resurrects GWAR’s legendary reptilian war beast, Gor Gor, in all its blood-drenched glory.

“GWAR is obtaining work visas as undercover plumbers to unclog all the disgusting items Aussies put down their drains,” says Jizmak Da Gusha. “But, the truth is, we have been asked to come back to Australia to fix all of their government’s problems. Should take about a week. I’m secretly excited to go down under because it’s shark season and lots of people are being eaten, which is very entertaining for me. Fun vacation all around.”

“For the second time in 40 years, GWAR is going down under. That’s right. December 2025, we invade our favorite penile colony. So throw another corpse on the barbie and get ready for metal, mutants, blood, and trickling rivulets of laughter! Because we are the true gods of shock rock, and we are coming to Australia!” adds The Berserker Blöthar.

From the farthest reaches of space come the Scumdogs of the Universe—now in collectible plastic form! Trick or Treat Studios has unleashed a new series of officially licensed GWAR action figures, each packaged in retro-style blister cards featuring artwork by Dug Nation.

Each figure comes with character-specific weapons and instruments, ready to bring the chaos wherever you take them. Pustulus Maximus features a spear, dagger & guitar; Beefcake the Mighty with sword & bass; Jizmak Da Gusha with war hammer & drumsticks; Balsac the Jaws of Death with battle axe & guitar; and Blöthar the Berserker with sword & shield.

In addition to the five figures, the Spew Tank is a plastic jar with a screw-top lid, filled with vile red spew, translucent red blood slime, and containing the most crucial pieces of the Scumdog leader himself, Oderus Urungus.

Inside the Spew Tank, you’ll find his head, torso, and the legendary Cuttlefish of Cthulhu, ready to assemble with the limbs included in the five GWAR action figures.

Pre-orders from gwar.net include Oderus for free.

GWAR Australia Good Things Festival 2025 Dates:

Dec 5 – Melbourne, AU @ Flemington Racecourse
Dec 6 – Sydney, AU @ Centennial Park
Dec 7 – Brisbane, AU @ Showgrounds

Nashville Startup Launches ‘Tiny Vinyl’ Collectibles Featuring Kacey Musgraves, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath & More

Eric Alper
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Nashville Startup Launches ‘Tiny Vinyl’ Collectibles Featuring Kacey Musgraves, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath & More

A Nashville-based startup has unveiled a new four-inch record called Tiny Vinyl. The discs are a miniaturized version of traditional vinyl records, measuring four inches in diameter, but designed to be played on a standard 33 1/3 rpm turntable. However, some turntables with auto-stop or auto-return features may struggle to play these small records due to their tonearms not reaching the center of the platter.

Each record can hold one song per side, with a maximum of about four minutes of music on each side.

Tiny Vinyl is considered “collectible,” combining the resurgence of vinyl with the popularity of miniature and collectible culture. They often come with unique, numbered editions and special packaging.

The startup has partnered with various record labels and artists to release music in this format, including Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Motley Crue, Melanie Martinez, Black Sabbath, Teddy Swims, The Notorious B.I.G., Backstreet Boys, and others. About two dozen releases are available through an exclusive national partnership with Target.

The company highlights the use of 100% bio-attributed vinyl and the significantly reduced material compared to a standard 12-inch LP (15-gram versus 140-gram), positioning them as a more eco-friendly option.

VIMIC Returns to Release ‘Open Your Omen’ and Honors Joey Jordison With “In Your Shadow”

Eric Alper
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VIMIC Returns to Release ‘Open Your Omen’ and Honors Joey Jordison With “In Your Shadow”

VIMIC, featuring late Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, has come back together with the help of Jordison’s family to release the long-awaited Open Your Omen album after years of working to secure the rights to the album.

The band has released “In Your Shadow,” its first single since 2017. It follows a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $100,000 to make the now-independent album release possible. Written by Jordison, lead vocalist Kalen Chase, and former VIMIC member Kris Norris as a tribute to the late Peter Steele of Type O Negative, the song has taken on new meaning as a tribute to Jordison and producer Kato Khandwala.

“Joey was a big fan of Peter Steele and he actually introduced me to him in 2007,” says Chase. “So there was no pushback on writing a tribute song about him. It’s a departure from the more extreme stuff we were doing for the record, which made it feel fresh. Playing it live was special because everybody had somebody specific in mind they were playing for. Now we’re playing it for Joey.”

VIMIC will perform at Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on October 3rd with support from Wednesday 13 (who was in Murderdolls with Jordison), and featuring a number of drummers behind Jordison’s iconic kit. A night honoring Joey Jordison and the release of the album is presented by the Joey Jordison Charitable Fund.

Big Loud Announces AmericanaFest Takeover at Skydeck Featuring Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr., Thelma & James, Zandi Holup, and Coleman Jennings

Eric Alper
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Big Loud Announces AmericanaFest Takeover at Skydeck Featuring Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr., Thelma & James, Zandi Holup, and Coleman Jennings

Big Loud announces its AmericanaFest Takeover at Skydeck on Broadway – a curated special event highlighting the genre’s remarkable talent. The takeover will feature performances by Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr., Thelma & James, Zandi Holup, and Coleman Jennings. Set for Wednesday, September 10th, doors open for AmericanaFest pass holders at 11 am and for the general public at 11:30 am. The event is open to all ages and admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Charles Wesley Godwin is a country and Americana staple with an acclaimed catalog of road-tested songs. Godwin’s 19-track Family Ties marked a triumphant breakthrough for the West Virginia native. Earlier this year, he released a stunning seven-song EP, Lonely Mountain Town. With new music on the horizon, Godwin will continue to tour throughout the year, hitting iconic venues along the way, like a sold-out headliner at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on October 15th.

Stephen Wilson Jr. is an Indiana-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter/guitarist. Wilson Jr.’s star continues to rise as his lauded debut album, Søn of Dad, continues to make waves in the industry and with his growing audience. In addition to his wildly successful Son of Dad Tour which includes two sold-out shows at Ryman Auditorium in November, Wilson Jr. will support labelmate Hardy through September.

Thelma & James is an undeniable force. Married Nashville-based singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge form the new musical partnership Thelma & James. Not realizing the best writing partner was right under their noses the whole time, their first co-write in over a decade produced “Happy Ever After You,” which has racked up over 20 million streams. The rising duo has since released a string of resonating songs, including “First Love,” “Chainsmokin Memories,” and most recently “Canaries in a Coal Mine.”

Prolific artist-writer Zandi Holup just released her debut album, Wildflower, a revelatory body of work born from embracing her singular eccentricity. Produced by Ryan Hadlock (Zach Bryan, Wyatt Flores), throughout Wildflower‘s 11 tracks, Holup embeds her songwriting with a lovely entangling of poetry, confession and fable-like narrative. The Pennsylvania-born, Nashville-based artist has shared the stage with Steve Earle, Amanda Shires, Johnson, Wyatt Flores, 49 Winchester, Midland and more.

Characterized by seamless vibrato, narrative-driven lyrics and melodic arrangements, Austin-based Coleman Jennings has created a vigorous and distinct sound. Resembling that of traditional outlaw country paired with the upbeat progressions of classic rock, folk and blues, Jennings has developed a dedicated fan base thanks to his unique sound and wise-beyond-his-years songwriting.

Ella Langley Postpones August Shows to Focus on Health

Eric Alper
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Ella Langley Postpones August Shows to Focus on Health

Ella Langley has postponed several August 2025 shows to focus on her health. In a statement shared on social media, she explained that she has been “fighting sickness and feeling more run down than ever” and needs to take a couple of weeks to rest and recover.

“I’m so sad to be posting this. The past several weeks have been tough. I’ve been fighting sickness and feeling more run down than ever,” she shares. “After a lot of thought, I’ve made the hard decision to take a couple of weeks to rest and focus on my health — mind, body, and heart. I want to be fully present for all the moments ahead, and I know I can’t do that without first taking care of myself.”

She says it’s important to listen to yourself.

“Sometimes we have to listen when our bodies and hearts are telling us to slow down. I’m so grateful for your understanding and your love. It truly means the world to me.”

She ends the statement with a Bible verse quote from Matthew 11:28.

“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’”

Canceled dates include two shows this weekend with Morgan Wallen in Cleveland, and four shows with Riley Green, including a stop at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO.

She’s expected to return to performing live on September 6th at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL, before rejoining Morgan Wallen for two stops in Edmonton, Canada, on September 12-13. Her headlining Still Hungover Tour kicks off on October 9th in Durant, OK, with dates through November 7 in Nashville.

Drake White Announces Second Benefit For The Brain at Ryman Auditorium November 17

Eric Alper
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Drake White Announces Second Benefit For The Brain at Ryman Auditorium November 17

Continuing a mission to support and bolster brain health and wellness, Drake White proudly presents his second Benefit For The Brain concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on November 17th. Once again, he will headline, host, and curate this special event. White’s non-profit, The Benefit For The Brai,n will donate and disperse proceeds from the show to select charity organizations.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 15th at 10 am local time.

With the full lineup to be unveiled soon, the event focuses on three pillars close to White’s heart: mental wellness for military and veterans, especially PTSD; brain health in children and adolescents; and innovative approaches to stroke recovery and neurological treatment.

In 2019, White’s life changed forever during a show in Roanoke, VA. Everything seemed fine until he started to play “The Coast Is Clear.” Right in the middle of the song, he endured a stroke and suddenly collapsed. In the aftermath of this fateful evening, he was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and underwent an unprecedented seven brain surgeries conducted by Nashville-based neurosurgeon Dr. Mericle. With the love of family, friends, and his incredible fanbase, he fought through it all. He returned to the stage and resumed his recording career, and also devoted himself to “the battle between your ears” by introducing Benefit For The Brain in 2023.

The inaugural installment impressively sold out the Ryman, welcomed a diverse cohort of A-list artists, and raised over $253,000. Beyond the night’s emotionally charged powerhouse set from White, the event featured Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, and surprise guest Colbie Caillat. Contributing to an important discourse, Dr. Mericle, Beth Torres of Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, Cellular Performance Institute founder Ed Clay, and CreatiVets co-founder Richard Casper each graced the stage to share incredible stories and experiences. Not to mention, Onsite founder Miles Adcox served as the MC.

On Friday (Aug 8th), White served up a sunny and sizzling new single entitled “Nuthin’ But a Smile.” It marks his first original release of 2025 and hints at more to come shortly. He produced the song, collaborating with co-writers Shane Minor and Monty Criswell.

Last month, he dropped the three-track Scattered, Smothered, Covers EP. He notably put his spin on “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, and “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.

White will be canvassing North America on tour through the end of 2025. He will headline his Keep It Movin’ Tour in the fall, and he’s set to rejoin Riley Green for the second leg of the Damn Country Music Tour. Plus, he’ll appear at various festivals and will play shows with friends such as Chase Rice, Travis Tritt, and Colt Ford.

Reneé Rapp’s Bite Me Debuts at #1 in UK, Netherlands, and Billboard Charts

Eric Alper
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0
Reneé Rapp’s Bite Me Debuts at #1 in UK, Netherlands, and Billboard Charts

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Reneé Rapp hits a massive career milestone, earning her first-ever No. 1 in the UK and the Netherlands, No. 1 on the Billboard chart for Pure US Album Sales, and No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her second studio album, Bite Me. With over 22 million streams, the project sold over 64K equivalent album units within the first week of release, and debuted in the top 10 in 5 countries, including the UK, Netherlands, Australia and Germany, making it Rapp’s best performing album.

Bite Me also landed at No. 2 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut Global and US charts, No.1 on the Spotify Top Albums Debut UK chart, and earned seven tracks on Spotify’s Top Songs Debut UK chart at No. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

Later this year, Rapp will embark on the Bite Me headlining tour across North America, kicking off September 23rd in Colorado at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and followed by a European leg slated for 2026. Her largest tour to date, the 16-city run includes major arena plays at venues across the country, including the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, TD Garden in Boston, and The Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

Band Together Texas to Livestream Miranda Lambert & Parker McCollum’s All-Star Benefit Concert

Eric Alper
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Band Together Texas to Livestream Miranda Lambert & Parker McCollum’s All-Star Benefit Concert

Band Together Texas, the star-studded benefit concert spearheaded by Texas natives Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum, will now deliver the show’s powerful message and all-star lineup to fans unable to join in person via livestreams across iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, YouTube, Facebook and nugs.net. Set for Sunday, August 17th at Moody Center in Austin, the event supports Central Texas flood recovery efforts with proceeds benefiting The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas Community Foundation.

The full show will be available to listen to live on all 150 iHeartRadio country stations as well as SiriusXM’s The Highway and Outlaw Country channels, while fans can also tune in to a video livestream on YouTube via Lambert and McCollum’s official channels, on Facebook via Lambert and McCollum’s pages, and on nugs.net. At-home streaming is made possible through the support of H-E-B, bringing the event to audiences across Texas and beyond.

Band Together Texas will feature performances from an all-star roster of Texas talent in addition to Lambert and McCollum – including Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Cody Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers Band.

In addition to the musical performances, notable Texans lending their support to the event include actors Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott.

The evening will also feature tributes to first responders and flood victims, including stories of rescue and resilience.

Band Together Texas is made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber and Whataburger.

Ax and the Hatchetmen Announce ‘So Much To Tell You’ Tour With 28 Headlining Dates

Eric Alper
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Ax and the Hatchetmen Announce ‘So Much To Tell You’ Tour With 28 Headlining Dates

Today, Chicago indie-rockers Ax and the Hatchetmen announce the So Much To Tell You Tour a 28-date headlining run bringing their recent acclaimed EP Constant Change to life. The band will be joined by Edgehill, Kids That Fly, Foxtide, Good Boy Daisy and John-Robert. Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 15th at 10AM local time. There will also be an artist presale starting today, August 12th, at 10AM local time, a Spotify/Venue presale starting Wednesday, August 13th at 12PM local time, and a local presale starting Thursday, August 15th at 10AM local time.

Sharing his excitement for the tour, lead singer Axel Ellis shares, “Just wrapped up a damn good time on tour with Fitz and the Tantrums, but there’s still some gas left in the van. If we missed you this summer we’ve got good news… we’re hitting the road again in the fall for our headlining ‘So Much To Tell You’ Tour. Very excited to bring out lots of friends as well- Edgehill, Kids That Fly, Foxtide, Good Boy Daisy and John-Robert will be joining us along the way. Endlessly grateful for your support, can’t wait to get back out there. See you soon.” 

Constant Change was brought to life in part by storied producer Jake Sinclair (Panic! At The Disco, Weezer, Avril Lavigne), who not only connected the group with their hero Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes for the explosive lead single “Blurry Lights,” but also helped source a long-lost Cuomo demo for the backbone of “7×9.” The sunny, carefree love song is pure fun, incorporating Beach Boy-style harmonies, oohs that seem to nod to Weezer’s Blue Album era, and the band’s signature brightly driving sound. 

Fans have also previously heard “Hotel Room,” an infectious mix of jangling guitars, upbeat drums, and glistening horns that captures the ache of long-distance romance, and the racing bliss bomb of a single “Stay // Honestly” a palpably pining tribute to unrequited love. Before the band shared the songs gathered on Constant Change, they served up 2024’s Love Songs EP, which included the single “Love Songs” and fan favorite “Where tf Did I Park My Car.”  

So Much To Tell You Tour Dates

October 1 – Urbana, IL – Canopy Club 

October 2 – Cape Giradeau, MO – Scout Hall

October 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom

October 30 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress

November 1 – Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell

November 2 – Las Vegas, NV – Swan Dive 

November 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex 

November 6 – San Francisco – The Independent 

November 8 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

November 10 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall

November 11 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz

November 13 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt

November 14 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall

November 15 – Washington DC – Union Stage

November 18 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 

November 19 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

November 21 – Chicago, IL – Metro 

November 22 – Madison, WI – The Majestic 

December 2 – Kansas City, MO – Warehouse on Broadway

December 3 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street Collective 

December 4 – Austin, TX – 29th Street Ballroom 

December 5 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

December 6 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada

December 10 – Orlando, FL – The Abbey

December 11 – St. Augustine, FL – Colonial Oak Music Park 

December 12 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar

December 13 – Charleston, SC – Pour House 

December 14 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room

Formed in 2018, Ax and the Hatchetmen came roaring out of Chicago with feel-great, crowd-pleasing shows, tight-knit musical camaraderie, and a wide range of influences spanning generations and genres. Led by guitarist/singer Axel Ellis, the band also features Sal Defilippis on guitar, Hunter Olshefke on bass, Nick Deputy on drums, Phil Pistone on trumpet, and Quinn Dolan on saxophone. Along with Ellis, the road-tripping sextet originally met in music school, where they were studying jazz. Though each band member has a formal music education, together Ax and the Hatchetmen have a loose, organic, rollicking vibe, channeling everyone from the Strokes to the Specials to the Rolling Stones, the Black Keys, Pink Floyd, ELO, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Cage The Elephant, and Hippo Campus.

Over the past few years, the guys have sold out headlining tours, played the hometown festival they once looked at with stars in their eyes (Lollapalooza), blessed fans with a 2023 live album, scored a deal with Arista Records, and released a steady stream of singles including recent drops like 2024’s brightly explosive “Where tf Did I Park My Car” and the racing bliss bomb of a 2025 opener “Stay // Honestly,” also produced by Sinclair. Ellis is also launching his on-screen career this year with a featured role in the upcoming Amazon episodic series The Runarounds. 

As the band gears up to unveil more music and go back out on the road they hope crowds will connect with their uplifting sound and, as Axel puts it, “aspirationally optimistic” lyrics. If you do catch them live or even in headphones, though, you can bet on one thing: as long as you’re with Ax and The Hatchetmen, all will feel right in the world.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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